Clutch mechanism.



No. 683,59l. Ptented Oct. I, 1901.

n. B. BULLARD. CLUTCH MECHANISM.

(Application filed June 19, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

, Jvvue/Wboz I N 6 .Dudley 5131 2252712 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUDLEY B. BULLARD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE BULLARD MACHINE TOOL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,591, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed June 19, 1901. erial No. 65,134. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUDLEY B. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Clutch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clutch mechanism such as is employed in connection with automatic machine-tools-as, for instance, the vertical turret-lathe illustrated and described in an application filed by Edward P. Bullard, Jr, June 18, 1901, Serial No. 65,025.

It is the object of my invention to generally improve clutch mechanism for the above purpose, and especially to provide a durable and practical device which will be particularly applicable to vertical turret-lathes, and, further, to provide means for readily adj usting the wearable parts of the clutch, so that the life of the same may be prolonged.

With the above objects in view my invention resides and consists in the novel construction and combination of parts shown upon the accompanying two sheets of drawings, forming a part of this specification, upon which similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and of which- Figure 1 shows a central vertical longitudinal section of my improved clutch device and the mechanism through the same. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken on line D D of Fig. 1. v Fig. 3 isa similar section looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the expandible member of the clutch, including the slide through which it is operated. Fig. 5 is adetail frontelevation of the expandible member and its connection shown in Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan View taken on line E E of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings, 1 represents the framework of the machine, and 2 a table rotatably mounted in said framework. The under side of this table is provided with an internal faced gear 3, which is engaged and operated by a pinion 4, mounted upon the vertical shaft 5, journaled in the frame before mentioned. The lower end of thisvertical shaft is provided with a bevel-gear 6, which meshes with and is driven by a similar gear 7, secured to the horizontal clutchshaft 8.

The foregoing connections, as will be apparent, are designed to transmit rotary movement to the table, which is turned upon its bearings and in practice serves to carry the work to be operated upon.

9 indicates a drivingpulley, and 10 its shaft, which, together with the shaft 8, arranged below, is journaled in a special casing 11, suitably secured to the main frame 1. The shaft 10 is provided with two gears 12 and 13, the former being a large gear and the latter a small one. This small gear is designed to impart a slow movement to the shaft 9 when the clutch is engaged, while the large gear imparts a more rapid movement.

On the shaft 8 is keyed an expandible clutch member 14:, the engaging periphery of which is divided into two sections 15 and 16, the former being adapted to effect the operative contact between the shafts 8 and 10 through the large gear 12 or fast speed, as will be apparent. This clutch member 14 carries in a suitable longitudinal groove of its hub a slidable member 17, (see Figs. 1, at, and 5,) the forward end of which contains an enlargement or head 18, having a pair of movable blocks therein, with recesses to receive the round end of spring-actuated cushioned links 19 interposed between said blocks and the expandible sections of the clutch member 14, before mentioned. These links 19 comprise two telescopic members, with a spring 19 interposed between the two, which normally forces the members of the links apart and insures their engagement at all times in a manner to prevent them from becoming loose when that particular clutch member is dis engaged. There are four of these cushioned links 19, forming a toggle connection with the head of the slide 17, two upon each side of said head, one pair being interposed between said head and the free ends of the expandible section 15 and the other pair interposed between the head and the second section 16. When this slide 17 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the expandible section 15 is in engagement and the clutch-section 16 out of engagement, while if it were shifted to the left, as seen in Fig. 6, the section 16 would be in engagement. It will further be apparent that if the slide were adjusted to an intermediate position (not shown) neither of said sections would be in engagement, and the parts could consequently run idle without imparting any movement to the shaft 8.

The connections between the section 15 of the clutch member 14 and the gear-wheel 12 comprise a special shaped case-wheel 20, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which is loosely mounted upon the hub of the member 14 and is free to rotate thereon when movement is imparted thereto from the wheel 12 through a gear-faced ring 21, keyed to said case-wheel. Within the case-wheel I provide an engaging ring 22, the outer periphery of which is straight and snugly fits against the inner wall of the said case-wheel, while theinner face of said ring is beveled to correspond with the inclined peripheral engaging surface of the clutch member 15, before mentioned. This ring 22 is of hard material and is adapted to be adjusted to secure the desired engagement at the proper instant and, further, to take up the wear which occurs between the parts, thus avoiding the necessityofdisassemblingalarge machine, as has heretofore been necessary. The ring in question is provided with aseries of outwardly-extended lugs 23,(see Figs. 1, 2, and 6,) which project through openings 24 on the friction case-wheel 20, before mentioned. The inner or under faces of these lugs are threaded and engaged by a threaded adjusting-sleeve mounted upon the hub of the wheel 20,before mentioned. It will thus be apparent that as said sleeve is turned to the right or left .the ring 22 is moved in or out, thus lengthening or shortening the space for engagement with the expandible member of the clutch. A device of substantially like construction is provided for the other section 16 of the clutch member 14 and consists of a casewheel 26, which is'also loosely mounted upon the shaft 8, and contains a peripheral gearface 27 for engagement by the small gear 13, before mentioned. The said gear-face 27 is of larger diameter than the gear which it engages, and consequently. imparts thereto a comparatively slow rotary movement. This movement, likethat of the former connec tions, is constant and serves to drive the casewheel 26 upon the shaft continuously, but at a slower speed than that of the former wheel 22. This case-wheel 26 also contains an adjustable ring 28, having threaded lugs 29 for engagement by an adjustable sleeve 30, secured in place upon the hub of the wheel by a collar 31. It will thus be apparent that, as in the former instance, the ring can be adjusted to or from the adjustable member 16 by a movement of the sleeve 30.

As before stated, the connections between the clutch members are made by a movement of the slide 17, which slide is operated by a suitable hand-lever 32, (see Fig. 3,) the same being mounted upon a rock-shaft provided with a segmental arm This segment in turn engages the toothed periphery 34 of a movable collar'35, having a series of camgrooves 36 in its face, each of which is engaged by a pin 37, secured to studs 38, attached to the main casing of the mechanism. This collar is further provided with an internal groove 39, carrying a ring 40, which latter is keyed to the slide 17, before mentioned, and is rotatably mounted upon a collar 41, loosely mounted upon the shaft 8.

It will be apparent that from the foregoing construction as the lever 32 is operated arotary movement will be imparted to the collar 35, which when engaged, as described, by the pins will be moved sidewise, carrying therewith the slide 17, freeing two of the links 19 and tightening upon the other pair, thus expanding the clutch member of said links into engagement with the coacting and movable clutch member therefor.

Since I have referred to the operation 0 the essential features of my machine in the detail description of its construction, I do not consider it again necessary to recite its complete operation and will accordingly omit the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a clutch device of the class described, the combination with a driven case-wheel of an expandible clutch member therein, an adjustable engaging ring carried by the said case-wheel and an adjustable sleeve whereby said adjustment may be effected.

2. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a case-wheel, of a separate ring in the internal peripheral face thereof, means for adjusting said ring to reduce or increase the engaging diameter of said ring and an expandible clutch member for engagement by said ring, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a clutch mechanism of the class described, the combination with a case-wheel, a bevel-faced ring mounted in said wheel bearing a threaded surface, a threaded sleeve to engage said surface to change the diameter of said ring, and an expandible clutch member within said ring adapted to be extended into engagement therewith, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a clutch mechanism of the class described, the combination with a case-wheel, a bevel-faced ring mounted in said wheel bearing a threaded surface, a threaded sleeve to engage said surface adapted to reduce the diameter of said ring, an expandible clutch member within said ring adapted to be extended into engagement therewith, a slide having self-adjusting links interposed between it and the expandible clutch member, a collar engaging the slide and means for moving the collar and the slide laterally to operate the clutch.

5. In a clutch mechanism of the class described, the combination with a pair of casewheels having separate clutch-faces, rings mounted upon the inner faces thereof, means for adjusting said rings sidewise, a pair of expandible clutch members mounted within said cases adapted to engage said adjustable rings a slide'bearing connections with said expandible members and means for manipulating said slide, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a clutch device of the class described, the combination with a driven case-wheel,.of an expandible clutch member therein, an adjustable engaging ring carried by the said case-Wheel, a sleeve whereby said adjustment of the ring may be effected, a slide with cushion-links connecting it with the expandible member of the clutch, a collar engaging the slide and bearing peripheral cam-surfaces, fixed pins engaging said cam-surfaces and means for imparting a rotary movement to said ring, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a case-wheel, of a laterallymovable bevel-faced ring carried thereby, means for moving said ring, an expandible clutch member for engagment with said ring, a slide carrying a movable block, toggles interposed between the block and the expandible member.

8. In a clutch member, the combination with a case-wheel, of a ring carried thereby, means for adjusting the same sidewise within the case an expandible engaging clutch member Within the ring, a slide mounted in the hub of said expandible member, a movable block within the slide, cushioned links between the bloclr and the movable clutch member, means for moving said slide laterally toexpand the clutch member for engagement with the ring of the case-wheel.

9. In a clutch device of the class described; 45

the combination with a driven shaft, of a pair of gears of difierent diameters thereon,

a pair of case-wheels bearing gear-faces toengage said gears, adjustable rings within the case-Wheels bearing beveled engaging faces, an expandible clutch-section for alternate engagement with said rings, a slide bearing toggle connections with said expandible sections and means for operating the slide.

10. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a driven shaft, of a large and small gear mounted thereon, a second shaft having case wheels loosely mounted thereon and bearing a large and small gear-face for engagement with the gears before mentioned, a bevel-faced ring mounted within the cases of each Wheel, a sleeve threadably engaging said rings for adjusting the same laterally, an expandible clutch member bearing separate sections mounted upon the second shaft, a slide carried by said clutch member and having separate cushioned links interposed between it and the expandible sections for engaging and disengaging the same from the two main wheels whereby movement may be imparted to the second shaft from either of the sections of the driven shaft.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 11th day of June, A. D. 1901.

DUDLEY l3. BULLARD.

Witnesses:

' O. M. NEWMAN,

HARRIET L. SLASON. 

